Gauge



March 6, 1934. JOYCE 1,950,031

GAUGE Filed May 31. 1930 HaraZdL. Jqgc e eff/0 67210? Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES GAUGE Application May 31, 1930, Serial No. 457,777

7 Claims.

The invention relates to gauges and primarily to that type of devices which employ pressure responsive means for actuating an indicator, the latter of which is movable relatively to indicia I to indicate pressure applied to the pressure responsive means.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to simplify the means whereby the pressure responsive mechanism, indicator and other ele- 10 ments of the device are supported so that manufacture of the various elements and assembly of the gauge is facilitated and the cost of production thereof reduced.

Another object of the invention is the production of means for supporting the pressure actuated mechanism for operating the indicator, which means includes a bracket having spaced arms which respectively provide means for supporting the opposite ends of a shaft of the pressure actuated mechanism, the arms being held in spaced relation to each other through an element which is preferably part of one of the arms which thus eliminates the necessity of providing spacers such as are now employed to hold the pivot plates of the usual structure in spaced relation to each other.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a bracket which is formed to produce spaced arms and means for holding the arms in spaced relation and in which said means provides means for cooperating with a tubular post, the latter of which provides means whereby the gauge is connected with the system, said means providing means assisting to properly position the bracket relatively to the post.

Another object of the invention is to construct a bracket for supporting said mechanism in which the elements forming the bracket are securely connected with each other, the means for connecting said elements with each other providing means allowing a holding element to be passed therethrough and into holding relation with said tubular post above referred to, to thereby secure the bracket and post with each other.

The invention has as a further object the provision of a unit comprised of the bracket, a dial, an indicator and mechanism for actuating the indicator, the dial having means provided therein which, when brought into register with the means in the bracket through which the holding means is passed, permits the holding means to provide means for effectively holding the bracket, dial and tubular post in assembled relation with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gauge with means for stabilizing movement of the indicator and to employ magnetic means for accomplishing this last mentioned feature.

The invention has these and other objects, all of which will be explained and more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which shows one embodiment of which the invention is susceptible, it being obvious that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the 5 spirit of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a gauge having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the improved means for supporting the pressure actuated mechanism and other elements of the device with respect to the tubular post of the device.

The gauge illustrated contemplates the use of a casing 10, a gauge glass 11 and a tubular post 12 which is threaded at 13, to allow the post or the device as a whole to be associated with a pressure system. The structure also contemplates the use of a pressure responsive element or Bourdon tube l i which has one end connected with the post 12 so that a communication is provided between the bore of the post 12 and said tube. The opposite end of the tube is connected in any suitable manner with any desired pressure responsive mechanism generally designated 15 which, in the present structure, includes a pinion 16 mounted on a shaft 17, the latter of which carries an indicator 18. ihe pressure actuated mechanism which is connected with the pressure responsive element or tube 14, in the present instance, includes a link 18 having one end connected with the free end of the tube 14 and having its opposite end connected with an arm 19 which is part of a toothed segment 20 carried by 100 a shaft 21. It is understood that the toothed segment 20 cooperates with the pinion 16 and therefore, as the tube 14 is expanded and contracted, this movement of the tube will be transmitted to the indicator 13. The structure fur- 105 ther contemplates the use of an indicator dial 2 which is provided with any suitable indicia so as to appraise the user of the pressure contained within the system with which the device is connected.

- 1 stationary portion of the structure.

The means forming one of the features of this invention is generally designated 23. This means forms a bracket for supporting the shafts such as 17 and 21; and the construction of this bracket materially reduces the number of parts ordinarily employed in devices of this character and simplifies the manufacture and assembly therefore, and also the cost of production. It will be noted that a portion of one of the elements of this bracket generally designated 23 is constructed to provide means for holding certain arms thereof in spaced relation to each other so as to provide a space in which to arrange the pressure actuated mechanism, and thus eliminates the use of separate spacers which are ordinarily interposed between plates in and between which the shafts of the pressure actuated mechanism are mounted.

The bracket 23 includes a pair of arms 24 and 25. One end of both of these arms such as 26 and 27 are connected with each other so as to provide a unitary bracket comprised of the arms 24 and 25. One of these arms such as 25 is formed to provide the portion 28 which projects laterally from the arm 24 and laterally with respect to the end 27 thereof and thus provides a shoulder which, when said bracket is associated with the post 12, will assist in holding and supporting the bracket with respect to the post. It will be seen from the following that this oifset portion 28 forms an element of means which facilitates assembly of the bracket and the post during manufacture. The end 27 of the element 25 is provided at 29 with the protruding portion 30 which is adapted to be inserted in a correspondingly shaped opening 31 provided in the lower end of the element forming the arm 2%. The means just referred to provides a means for holding the arm 24 against displacement with respect to the arm 25, and in addition, provides means whereby a holding element such as 32, may be passed through the bracket and into holding engagement with the post 12.

It will be noted that the dial 22 is also stationarily connected with the post 12 and is, therefore, provided with apertures which, when brought into register with the openings 31 allow a holding element such as 32 to be passed through said dial and into holding engagement with said post, which thus holds the dial in unitary relation with the bracket and the post.

It may be here stated that the casing 10 of the structure is held with relation to the post 12 and other elements of the device through the agency of a holding screw 34 which is passed through the casing and into holding engagement with the post.

As before stated, it is an object of the invention to provide means for stabilizing movement of the indicator 18. It will be seen that the means herein employed for accomplishing this advantage eliminates the usual hair spring em ployed in structures of this character which usually has one end connected with some suitably The means for accomplishing this last mentioned feature contemplates the use of magnetic means and to this end, the dial 22 is formed of some magnetic substance such as soft steel and aporticn of the V indicator 18' is magnetized, an attraction is produced between the dial and the indicator which will stabilize the motion thereof and result in accomplishing the same function of the hair spring which in this structure is eliminated and will apply an end thrust to the indicator shaft.

The bracket arms may each be provided with a slit such as 35 to provide means for aligning the shaft 17 of the pressure actuated mechanism or adjusting said shaft, the slits permitting the portions in which the ends of said shaft are journaled to be moved relatively to other portions of the bracket or to each other to thereby effect said adjustment of said shaft.

From the foregoing description, it is manifest that a bracket is produced which, by virtue of its formation, provides a means for maintaining certain portions of the bracket in spaced relation to each other to thereby provide means in and between which certain elements of a pressure actuated mechanism for actuating the indicator may be mounted, and in addition, provides means which, in effect, produces a shoulder which assists in maintaining the bracket in proper and supported relation relatively to the post. It is also evident that by providing the opposite ends of the bracket arms with a means whereby one arm is connected with the other which allows a holding element to be passed therethrough and into the post, that the operations necessary to construct and assemble the bracket with the post are materially reduced. It is also manifest that by providing the dial with apertures which are adapted to be brought into register with the openings in the bracket arms, so that said hold ing element may be passed through the dial and the apertures in this end of the bracket arms, a holding element such as 32 may be employed to secure the dial, bracket and post together as a unit.

In addition to the above, it is evident that by 1 employing a dial of magnetic material and a magnetized indicator, that a magnetic means is employed for stabilizing the motion of the indicator which also applies an end thrust to the shaft of the indicator which will assist in holding the arbor or shaft 17 thereof in proper relation to the bearing produced in the arm 25 of the bracket.

Having thus described the invention, what I ends of said elements, the opposite ends of said' elements being connected with said post and said first mentioned ends of said elements providing means for supporting said mechanism.

2. In a gauge of the kind described, the combination of a dial, an indicator, a tubular post, mechanism for actuating said indicator, said mechanism including a shaft, pressure responsive means communicating with said post and providing means for actuating said mechanism,

an element providing a bracket having spaced arms, one end of said element being connected to said post, said element having an offset portion providing a shoulder which cooperates with said post to assist in holding said element with relation to said post, one of said arms being extended from the offset portion and being arranged in spaced relation to the other arm, said arms providing means for respectively supporting the opposite ends of said shaft of said indicator actuating mechanism.

3. In a gauge of the kind described, the combination of a dial, an indicator, a tubular post, mechanism for actuating said indicator, means communicating with said post and providing means for actuating said mechanism, a bracket for supporting said mechanism, said bracket being composed of a pair of elements connected with each other at one end, apertured means for connecting said ends, the opposite ends of said elements being arranged in spaced relation to each other, said mechanism being supported in said space by said last mentioned ends, and means passing through said apertured means for connecting said bracket with said post.

4. In a gauge of the kind described, the combination of a dial, an indicator, a tubular post, mechanism including a shaft for actuating said indicator, means communicating with said post and providing means for actuating said mechanism, a bracket for supporting said mechanism, said bracket being comprised of a pair of members, one end of one of said members being connected with the adjacent end of the other and one of said members having a portion thereof extended in a lateral direction relatively to the other member and having another portion arranged in spaced parallel relation to said other member, said laterally directed portion providing means for receiving an end of said post and the parallel portions of said members providing supports for the opposite ends of said shaft of said mechanism.

5. In a gauge of the kind described, the combination of a dial, an indicator, a tubular post, mechanism for actuating said indicator, means communicating with said post and providing means for actuating said mechanism, a bracket providing means for supporting said mechanism, said bracket including a pair of elements providing spaced arms and means for holding said arms in spaced relation, one of said elements having a portion arranged intermediate the ends of the other member extending in a lateral direction and providing means for holding said arms in spaced relation and providing means cooperating with the end of said post to limit movement of said bracket in one direction lengthwise of the post.

6. In a gauge of the kind described, the combination of a dial, an indicator, mechanism for actuating said indicator, a tubular post, an expansible and contractable element communicating with said post and connected with said mechanism providing means for actuating said mechanism, said mechanism including a shaft upon which said indicator is mounted, a bracket for supporting said shaft, said bracket including a pair of shaft supporting arms, one end of both of said arms being connected with each other and with said post.

7. In a gauge of the kind described, the combination of a dial, an indicator, a tubular post, mechanism for actuating said indicator, means communicating with said post and providing means for actuating said mechanism, a bracket for supporting said mechanism, said bracket being comprised of a pair of members, one end of one of said members having an aperture and being conloo nected with the adjacent end of the other member, said end of said second mentioned member having an apertured protrusion, a holding element for insertion into said apertured end of said first mentioned member, the aperture in said pro- Q5 trusion providing means through which said holding member may be passed into holding engagement with said post and one of said members having a portion thereof extended in a laterah direction and having another portion arranged in spaced parallel relation to an adjacent portion of the other member, the last mentioned ends of said members providing a support for the opposite ends of a shaft of said mechanism.

HAROLD L. JOYCE. 

